Optical fiber contact

Abstract

An optical fiber contact for transmitting moderate-magnitude optical power. The fiber contact includes an optical fiber having an inner core and a surrounding cladding for transmitting the radiation in the core. Additional surrounding layers including so-called buffer and jackets mechanically stabilize the optical fiber. The forward part of the optical fiber contact is surrounded by a transparent tubular member. The tubular member extends a certain length along the outer cylindrical surface of the cladding. There is no heating by power loss radiation, as the power loss radiation is leaving the contact as optical radiation. To disperse radiation propagating within the cladding, the cladding includes a roughening or additional layers of a transparent material. In case of additional layers of transparent material then the outermost layer should be roughened.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. An optical fiber contact for transmitting moderate-magnitude optical power, the optical fiber contact comprising:
 an optical fiber comprising
 an inner core, 
 a cladding surrounding the inner core for transmitting the radiation within the core, the cladding having an outer cylindrical surface, and 
 additional layers surrounding the cladding to mechanically stabilize the optical fiber, 
 
 a transparent tubular member surrounding a forward part of the optical fiber contact, wherein the transparent tubular member extends a portion of a length along the outer cylindrical surface of the cladding, and 
 a mode stripper applied to the cladding to disperse radiation propagating within the cladding, 
 wherein the transparent tubular member and the optical fiber are fused together at a front end of the forward part of the contact forming a mechanical structure, and wherein at least a portion of the cylindrical surfaces of the transparent tubular member is roughened. 
 
     
     
       2. The optical fiber contact according to  claim 1 , wherein the mode stripper comprises a roughening of the cladding. 
     
     
       3. The optical fiber contact according to  claim 1 , wherein the mode stripper comprises an additional layer of a transparent material having a roughening and applied to the cladding. 
     
     
       4. The optical fiber contact according to  claim 1 , wherein the transparent tubular member surrounds the cladding along said length. 
     
     
       5. The optical fiber contact according to  claim 1 , wherein the transparent tubular member has an outer diameter of 1-5 mm and a length of 30-100 mm. 
     
     
       6. The optical fiber contact according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a non-transparent, non-absorbing but light-scattering sleeve member applied to a rear region of the contact, surrounding the cladding and forming an extension of said transparent tubular member. 
 
     
     
       7. The optical fiber contact according to  claim 6 , wherein said non-transparent, non-absorbing but light-scattering sleeve member comprises aluminum oxide ceramics and has substantially a same outer diameter as the transparent tubular member. 
     
     
       8. The optical fiber contact according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a cylindrical housing, 
 a rear ring-shaped supporting element, 
 a front supporting element configured to hold the forward part of the fiber contact, wherein the front supporting element comprises a conical aperture, and wherein the forward part and a rear part of the fiber contact provide a cavity formed between the outer transparent tubular member of the fiber contact, the cylindrical housing, the front supporting element and the rear ring-shaped supporting element. 
 
     
     
       9. The optical fiber contact according to  claim 8 , wherein the front supporting element comprises a non-absorbing material. 
     
     
       10. The optical fiber contact according to  claim 1 , wherein the front end of the fiber contact has an inclined grinded and polished surface to deviate back-reflected radiation. 
     
     
       11. The optical fiber contact according to  claim 1 , wherein the optical fiber contact is for transmitting moderate-magnitude optical power, in the range of 50-500 W. 
     
     
       12. The optical fiber contact according to  claim 1 , wherein the transparent tubular member comprises a material similar to the material of the cladding.